When gamers think about Blizzard Entertainment, they usually think about Warcraft, Overwatch, Diablo, and Starcraft. Each of those IPs have become a staple of PC gaming over the years and brought Blizzard to where it is today. Most of these franchises receive consistent content with two Diablo games coming, a brand new World of Warcraft expansion and mobile game, and the long awaited Overwatch 2. The StarCraft brand, on the other hand, has essentially been forgotten by Blizzard, as the last big release for the series was in 2017 with StarCraft: Remastered. Further, the last brand-new game was all the way back in 2010 with StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty.
The StarCraft series was once one of the biggest names in PC gaming. It brought Blizzard's RTS mechanics to a science fiction world and garnered a major fan base throughout its run. The series also spawned multiple novels, eSports, and even made an appearance in Heroes of the Storm. However, Blizzard has elected not to do much with the brand, and it essentially just sits around collecting dust. With Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard, a new opportunity for the franchise arises. Once the acquisition is complete, Microsoft should take the iconic StarCraft brand and give it to a developer that will actually use it.
A Brief History of StarCraft
The StarCraft series began in 1998, and it brought the Warcraft RTS formula to the science fiction genre. The story followed the Terrans, an Earth colony who had lost contact with Earth as they battle against the Zerg and the Protoss. Players would have to engage in RTS battles and build up their bases to defend against the encroaching aliens. The story saw the introduction of some classic video game characters like Jim Raynor, Tassadar, and Sarah Kerrigan. StarCraft was released to critical acclaim, with some outlets calling it the best RTS game of all time and one of the best games ever made.
StarCraft received two add-ons and an expansion pack the same year it was released. These packs were titled Insurrection and Retribution, and they added more story content that took place during the main game. The expansion pack was called StarCraft: Brood War, and it continued the story right from where it left off. It saw the introduction of many new features, like brand-new units, graphical tilesets, and improved scripting for the level editor. The expansion also received high praise, with many saying it was on par with the original game. Both the expansion pack and the main game received a remaster in 2017, which was also met with strong reviews.
Aside from a Nintendo 64 game called StarCraft 64, the mainline StarCraft series did not see another title until 2010 with the launch of StarCraft 2: Wings of Liberty. The story was set four years after the events of Brood War and continued the galaxy-spanning conflict. It saw the return of many characters like Raynor and Kerrigan as well as the introduction of brand-new figures like Tychus Findlay. The sequel became the fastest-selling RTS game and was met with high praise from critics, though it was criticized for lacking some features that the original had like LAN play. The title saw a couple DLC packs from 2013-2016 that expanded upon the story and added many new features, but has seen little content since.
StarCraft Needs Some Attention
Since the release of the StarCraft: Remastered, there has not been any new StarCraft content. Some characters made their appearance in Heroes of the Storm, and Blizzard still emphasizes StarCraft as one of its major brands, but there has been no entry in the series since 2017. A series that spawned multiple novels, a huge following, a board game, and is one of the most popular RTS franchises has seemingly vanished.
The StarCraft brand is in desperate need of some type of attention. As Blizzard continues to churn out content for Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch, t has left StarCraft in the dust. Once the deal is complete, Microsoft needs to find a developer who is willing to bring the series back from the dead. Not only will it be good for StarCraft fans to see their beloved series return, but it could also create a renewed interest in the RTS genre.
With Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company will soon have StarCraft under its wings. If Blizzard has no interest in using the brand, then perhaps Microsoft can find a studio who does. Most recently, Microsoft worked alongside Relic Entertainment to bring back another old school RTS series in the form of Age of Empires 4, and maybe that studio could do the same for StarCraft. The two studios already have a strong working relationship, and Relic has shown it can make fun RTS titles, so it seems like the perfect match.
Relic Entertainment has a history of making quality RTS titles, and it has become one of the major RTS developers of the 21st century. Microsoft should levy these skills to deliver the continuation of StarCraft that fans need. If Relic is not interested, then Microsoft could pull from its large assortment of studios to find someone willing to craft a new StarCraft game. It could also reach out to other third-party studios like Creative Assembly who already have experience delivering a science-fiction based RTS through Halo Wars 2.
The StarCraft series was once one of the biggest RTS series on the market, but has since fallen into obscurity. While there still seems to be a strong eSports market for it, the more casual of fans have moved onto other franchises and forgotten about StarCraft. Microsoft needs to try and revive this classic franchise by reaching out to developers like Relic Entertainment, finding a new home for StarCraft if Blizzard has no plans for it.